Nutella fans might have to dig deeper into their pockets soon, as Italy’s hazelnut harvest has dropped to around 70,000 tonnes this year — just half of the usual yield. Italian agricultural associations warn that climate change, warmer winters, spring storms, summer droughts, and pest infestations have caused the third consecutive year of decline.
Hazelnuts are a crucial ingredient in Nutella, making up about 13 percent of the spread’s composition. The Italian company Ferrero produces around 500,000 tonnes of Nutella annually, and experts say that rising hazelnut prices will likely translate into higher consumer costs.
According to German media, the price of a 450-gram jar has already risen by 27 percent since 2022.
Ferrero has started sourcing hazelnuts from Turkey to offset the shortage, but poor harvests there have limited relief. Analysts warn that the industry may soon turn to suppliers in the United States and China to meet growing demand — a shift that could further impact prices and production consistency worldwide.
